Match Report
The table read 9th (Al Gharafa, 3 pts) against 2nd (Al Shamal SC, 7 pts), 4 points apart. Scoring rates set the scale: Al Gharafa 1.33 scored and 2.67 conceded per game, Al Shamal SC 3 and 1.67, with the league averaging 1.83.
Defeat had not touched Al Gharafa in 7 games. Al Shamal SC had not won in 5 games. Recent form was uneven: 11/15 points for Al Gharafa, 1/15 for Al Shamal SC.
GioScore's database holds 10 meetings between the two: 2 for Al Gharafa, 4 for Al Shamal SC and 4 drawn, at 2 goals per meeting. Home advantage has meant little here: 10% of the meetings went to the host. The fixture trends low-scoring: over two goals in just 30% of the meetings.
Khalifa International Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 45,857. A. Al Ruaile officiated: 59 games logged, averaging 0.9 yellow cards each. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 4 second-half goals set the final 1-3.
Goal scorers
Al Gharafa: Fabricio Díaz (52') · Al Shamal SC: Omar Rafik Mohamed (56'), Ali Asad (90'), Baghdad Bounedjah (90')
Key stats
Possession: Al Gharafa 52% · Al Shamal SC 48% · Total shots: 15-16 · On target: 7-7 · Corners: 7-6